Total solar eclipses don’t come along very often, so when they do, there’s always a spike in travel.
Metasearch engine Kayak has been tracking the surge in interest and has reported a staggering 2,134% increase in hotel searches and a 304% increase in flight searches for the dates around the eclipse compared to last year.
Crunch Time
The reason for the crunch is that April 8’s total solar eclipse will only be visible from inside a narrow path of totality. Stretching from Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, it will cross 15 U.S. states from Texas to Maine but be, on average, just 115 miles wide.
Everyone outside the path of totality in North America will see only partial phases through solar eclipse glasses. Only from within will it be possible to see those partial phases and a few minutes of totality.
Most Affordable Eclipse Hotels
Despite a surge in demand for hotels across the path of totality, April 8’s total solar eclipse is not a sellout. Kayak’s research highlights the 10 major cities in the path of totality and ranks them by the average nightly rate being charged by hotels. I’ve added the duration of totality on April 8:
- Montreal, Canada: $217 average nightly rate (1 minute 16 seconds)
- Little Rock, AR: $232 average nightly rate (2 minutes 30 seconds)
- Dallas, TX: $247 average nightly rate (3 minutes 52 seconds)
- Indianapolis, IN: $289 average nightly rate (3 minutes and 51 seconds)
- Cleveland, OH: $321 average nightly rate (3 minutes and 50 seconds)
- Buffalo, NY: $324 average nightly rate (3 minutes and 46 seconds)
- Cape Girardeau, MO: $368 average nightly rate (4 minutes 7 seconds)
- Lake Placid, NY: $390 average nightly rate (3 minutes 22 seconds)
- Erie, PA: $407 average nightly rate (3 minutes 43 seconds)
- Hot Springs, AR: $417 average nightly rate (3 minutes 39 seconds)
Montreal Emerges
Perhaps surprisingly, Montreal emerges as the bargain. The city is preparing for the eclipse, with massive free events planned for Montréal Science Centre and Parc Jean Drapier, though the city is split in two by the path’s northern limit, with the Downtown area the place to be for a totality lasting over a minute. It’s been cloudy in Montreal on April 8, 69% of the time in the last 20 years, according to Timeanddate.
Arguably, a better destination—both in terms of a longer totality and for an increased chance of clear skies—is second-placed Little Rock, Arkansas. Here, totality will last twice as long, and there’s a 57% chance of cloud, according to Timeanddate. It’s a similar story in Dallas, where totality will be ever longer (in its southern suburbs, at least).
Most Affordable Eclipse Hotels
It’s a similar story for flights—at least at first glance—with Montreal, Cleveland and Dallas emerging as the most affordable:
- Montreal, Canada: $422 average airfare
- Cleveland, OH: $435 average airfare
- Dallas, TX: $437 average airfare
- Indianapolis, IN: $495 average airfare
- Burlington, VT: $501 average airfare
- Buffalo, NY: $509 average airfare
Bargains Outside The Path Of Totality
Kayak’s research also uncovered some more affordable flights to four cities close to—but not inside the path of totality. Flying into one of these cities to see the eclipse would be pointless—all you’ll notice is slightly more of the sun partially eclipsed by the moon, wherever you’ve come from in North America. Since you must be in the path of totality to see and experience the total solar eclipse, these four cities should only be considered if you also have a rental car to get you into the path of totality on or before April 8. However, for all four cities, it’s a relatively short drive:
- St. Louis, MO: $337 average airfare and $80 average daily rate for a rental car (just north of the path)
- Pittsburgh, PA: $349 average airfare and $77 average daily rate for a rental car (just south of the path)
- Cincinnati, OH: $362 average airfare and $90 average daily rate for a rental car (just south of the path)
- Louisville, KY: $378 average airfare and $89 average daily rate for a rental car (just south of the path)
Montreal also emerged as having the most affordable rental car charges, at a $59 average daily rate.
For the latest on the total solar eclipse—including travel and lodging options—check my main feed for new articles daily.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
